How to Compost Your Leaves and Leaf Disposal Options in the Gorge
Fall leaves change colors at The Dalles Art Center. Photo Credit: Robbie Denning
Fall is here and that means it’s time to compost your leaves!
Many communities around the Gorge, including The City of The Dalles are encouraging their citizens to rake and compost their leaves in order to keep storm drains and city streets clear of fall debris.
Recommended ways of responsibly caring for fall yard derbris include: composting leaves at home, putting leaves in yard debris containers for pick-up by various disposal agencies, or put the leaves in compostable bags and taking them to a local transfer stations.
The City of The Dalles, The City of Hood River, and the City of Cascade Locks are also offering free yard debris disposal this November.
Free Leaf Disposal for The Dalles Residents
Monday November 1, 2021 kicks off The Dalles Disposal autumn leaf disposal special. During November The Dalles Transfer Station, will accept yard debris at no charge from The Dalles city residents only. Residents may take bagged leaves to the transfer station Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Free leaf disposal is for residential customers only. Landscape care companies and non-residential properties are not eligible for this special offer. The Dalles Disposal asks that residents please use compostable paper bags. The Dalles Disposal will not accept yard debris in plastic garbage bags.
For more information about free leaf disposal call The Dalles Disposal at (541) 298-5149.
Fall Maple Leaves. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Don’t live in The Dalles? Here are some more leaf disposal options.
Dirt Hugger in Dallesport also accepts unbagged yard debris at the rate of $6 per yard with a $12 minimum.
For more information on fall leaf disposal in Hood River click here.
For more information on fall leaf disposal in Klickitat County click here.
For more information on fall leaf disposal in Cascade Locks click here.
Why not just leave those leaves alone?
Cities are encouraging people to compost their leaves in order to keep storm drains and city streets clear of fall debris.
“As weather cools many trees scatter leaves across lawns and streets,” said The City of The Dalles in a press release today. “Fallen leaves can block stormwater catch basins and cause flooding. They also create a slip hazard when they freeze onto the streets. We need your help to dispose of leaf piles and keep our streets safe.”
The city-wide goal is to pick up leaves promptly so that they do not block the storm water catch basins and before they freeze onto the streets. The City of The Dalles has asked residents to also remember to park off the street during street sweeper work hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and to report abandoned autos (extended parking with flat tire, storing junk, expired tags or broken windows) by calling (541) 296-5481 x1153.
The City of The Dalles also asked citizens not to rake leaves from yards into the street to be mindful of picking up large sticks and branches from the roadway to prevent street sweeper jams, and to clear storm drains in front of their houses to prevent flooding during a rainstorm.
Plus, composting your leaves is good for the soil.
“Composting leaves makes a dark, rich, earthy, organic matter that can be used like soil,” said Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist at GardeningKnowHow.com, ”It adds nutrients to the garden soil and the larger particle size helps enhance the tilth and loosen compacted earth. Compost retains moisture and repels weeds when used as a top dressing or mulch.”
Read more at Gardening Know How: Composting Leaves In Garden: Learn The Benefits Of Leaf Compost https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/composting-leaves.htm
Or to learn more about composting at home check out the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s website.
